Exploding Weed Seeds (28,546 fps Slow Motion)- Smarter Every Day 257

Summary by Krater

An exploration of the explosive seed dispersal mechanism of the hairy bittercress plant (Cardamine hirsuta), filmed with high-speed macro photography up to 20,000 frames per second.

From the video

Answers: How do hairy bittercress seeds explode?

• explosive seed dispersal
• Cardamine hirsuta
• high-speed macro photography
• morphomechanical innovation

What it concludes

• Seeds located closer to the base of the pod launch at faster speeds.
• The direction that each seed goes is a function of the stickiness of the seed to the pod curl.
• The spatial distribution of seeds is a function of stickiness and curl speed, creating a randomized seed dispersal pattern.